Full Breakdown
Murder of Brian Low: Police Missteps, Trial and Conviction
8/12/2026, 2:11:30 AM
The Fatal Shooting
On February 16, 2024, retired gamekeeper David Campbell, 77, shot his former colleague Brian Low, 65, with a shotgun while Low was walking his dog Millie on a secluded farm track near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland. The attack left Low with roughly 30 shotgun-pellet injuries to his face, chest and neck, killing him within seconds.
Investigation Delays and Police Response
Low’s body was discovered the following morning on Leafy Lane on February 17, with his dog beside him. Detectives initially judged the cuts on his hands and face as “consistent with him having fallen,” and the death was recorded as non-suspicious. A crime-scene cordon was not erected until February 23, six days after the discovery, and a formal murder inquiry began ten days later.
Detective Chief Superintendent Lorna Ferguson said:
The Crown Office has declined to open a further investigation into Police Scotland’s handling of the case.
Trial and Conviction
Campbell was arrested three months after the shooting and faced a 15-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Prosecutors presented a circumstantial case linking Campbell to a long-standing grievance stemming from their joint employment at the Edradynate Estate. CCTV footage captured a hooded cyclist—identified as Campbell—on the afternoon of February 16, shortly before the shooting.
In February 2024, a jury returned a guilty verdict. Judge Lord Scott sentenced Campbell to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years before parole eligibility.
Official Statements & Responses
- Police Scotland issued a public apology to Low’s family for the investigative shortcomings.
- Judge Lord Scott emphasized the severity of the crime, calling it a “brazen, brutal and planned execution.”
Criticism & Opposition
Family members expressed anger at the initial police assessment. Douglas Low, Brian’s brother, said he was “so angry and so sad” that the shotgun injuries were not recognized immediately.
During the trial, Campbell’s defence lawyer labelled the early police handling a “glaring mistake,” underscoring the perceived failure to treat the scene as a homicide.
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Brian Low, 65, groundsman (2000-2023).
- Perpetrator: David Campbell, 77, former head gamekeeper (1984-2018).
- Injuries: ?30 shotgun-pellet wounds; blood on hands and face.
Timeline
- February 16, 2024 – Shooting occurs.
- February 17 – Body found on Leafy Lane.
- February 23 – Crime-scene cordon erected.
- Later in February – Murder inquiry launched (ten days after discovery).
- May 2024 (approx.) – Campbell arrested.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I can’t imagine why someone would say that’s a medical event.” — Brian Low
- “It just seems incredible that they didn’t see the marks on his face, the shot.” — Jacqui Low
